Owen Scott

Who was Owen Scott?

Owen Scott was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Born on a farm in Jackson Township, Illinois, Scott attended the common schools, a private school in Kinmundy, and the State normal school in Normal, Illinois. He taught school. Superintendent of schools for Effingham County, Illinois from 1873 to 1881. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1873 and commenced practice in Effingham, Illinois. He engaged in newspaper work. Published the Effingham Democrat. He served as mayor of Effingham in 1882. City attorney in 1883 and 1884. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1884 and became proprietor and manager of the Bloomington Daily and Weekly Bulletins. Deputy collector of internal revenue by appointment of President Cleveland 1885-1889. He served as chairman of the Illinois Democratic convention at Springfield, Illinois, in 1888.

Scott was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-second Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1892 to the Fifty-third Congress. He moved to Decatur, Illinois, in 1899 and managed the Decatur Herald until 1904, when he engaged in the insurance business. He retired from the insurance business in 1921 to become secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Illinois, which position he held until his death in Decatur, Illinois, December 21, 1928. He was interred in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Effingham, Illinois.